Story Highlights

INDIANAPOLIS – Nearly all the airtime and coverage dedicated to Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks through the first two weeks of training camp has been focused on the one not in the lineup.

But even while Andrew Luck’s throwing shoulder continues to heal — he was in great spirits Friday, spotted chatting up some Lions players after the teams’ joint practice — another quarterback storyline is unfolding. And, no, it’s not the ongoing inconsistency of backup Scott Tolzien.

Little-known Phillip Walker, an undrafted free agent from Temple, is quietly taking a bigger percentage of the practice reps, calling into question what, exactly, we should expect from the quarterback lineup heading into Sunday’s preseason opener at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Tolzien will start against the Detroit Lions, but it’s possible he could play sparingly. When he’s pulled from the game, this question remains: Will Walker take the reins, or will Stephen Morris be inserted even after taking no meaningful reps in practice in recent days?

In either case, it’s become clear the Colts are taking a closer look at Walker and fans should prepare to see lots of him, too.

Pagano declined to elaborate on whether the intent is to give Walker the nod over Morris in the pecking order on Sunday, but Morris' utter lack of practice reps has been glaring.

In the meantime, Walker is embracing the opportunity. The strong-armed rookie is fighting the temptation to try and do too much in his quest to catch his coaches’ eyes.

“I’m trying to let the game come to me and not force any throws that don’t need to be forced,” he said. “Just protect the football and move the football.”

The Colts showed significant interest in Walker before the draft, according to his agent, Marty Magid of MRM Sports and Entertainment. Walker thought he was a strong candidate to be drafted, but found it difficult to overcome his 5-11 stature.

CLOSE

The Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions wrap up their second joint practice. Insiders Stephen Holder and David Birkett discuss what to expect on Sunday.
Clark Wade/IndyStar

After going undrafted, as many as 10 teams expressed interest in signing Walker as a free agent. The Colts seemed to present the most viable path to preseason playing time and, potentially, a roster spot.

Little did Walker know back in April that Luck would still be sidelined and unlikely to play a lick in the preseason. Luck's absence has had a tremendous impact on the division of reps in practice, too. It's also possible Luck's injury situation could influence the Colts to keep three quarterbacks on their final roster after generally going with two the past few seasons.

Now, it’s up to Walker to take advantage. Things are coming at him fast, but he’s keeping pace.

“I was a four-year starter in college, so I knew the system really well,” Walker said. “I knew what they were going to call and when they were going to call it and why they were going to call it. But now, I’m adjusting. I’m coming out before practice and working, studying the script the night before, getting into each play. Just making every rep count and taking every opportunity as my last opportunity.”

Sunday likely won’t be his last opportunity, but it will certainly be Walker’s best yet.

Bond gets a shot

Just like that, the Colts are down a starting quarterback and a starting center. And they’re turning to an Indianapolis native to fill the void.

In light of Ryan Kelly’s foot injury, the team looks to Deyshawn Bond, a Warren Central grad, to fill the void in the meantime. The undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati figures to get the start Sunday against the Lions.

“Deyshawn does stick out in my mind as a guy who was always here (in the spring and summer) and always getting better,” Tolzien said of Bond. “He’s staying late, putting in the work in the weight room. You can tell when a guy is doing purposeful, intentional work, and Deyshawn is one of those guys.”

Kelly won’t be the only offensive lineman down for Sunday’s game. Left guard Joe Haeg, who missed the past week of practice, also will be watching from the sidelines. Second-year Colt Jeremy Vujnovich figures to get the start for Haeg.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) with a special camera on his face mast during their training camp practice at the Colts complex on West 56th Street Friday morning August 11, 2017.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

Through the QB’s eyes

Strapped on Tolzien’s helmet Friday was a tiny camera. The thinking: Capture what the quarterback sees. The Colts are venturing into virtual reality.

“We’re basically testing it to see if it can give us an advantage,” Tolzien said after practice.

It won’t be the first time for Luck, who toyed with virtual reality first during a visit to his alma mater, Stanford, during the summer of 2015. The quarterbacks planned on watching the tape from Friday’s practice in an effort to more closely simulate the intricacies and moving parts of the position.

“We’ll obviously check it out and see if it can help us,” Tolzien said.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) with a special camera on his face mast during their training camp practice at the Colts complex on West 56th Street Friday morning August 11, 2017.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) kicks the ball as Kasey Redfern (2) holds it for him during their training camp practice at the Colts complex on West 56th Street Friday morning August 11, 2017.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief (10) and T.Y. Hilton (13) have a question at they stretch out during their training camp practice at the Colts complex on West 56th Street Friday morning August 11, 2017.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts running back Robert Turbin (33) and the other running backs during their training camp practice at the Colts complex on West 56th Street Friday morning August 11, 2017.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Darrell Daniels (47) looks to run by Detroit Lions outside linebacker Antwione Williams (52) as he waits for the pass from quarterback Stephen Morris (7) during their training camp practice at the Colts complex on West 56th Street Friday morning August 11, 2017.
Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Other practice observations

>> Backup guard Denzelle Good left Friday’s workout with an undisclosed injury. Pagano gave no update after practice. But suffice to say, it’s not been a good week for the Colts’ offensive line.

>> Lions QB Matthew Stafford turned a busted coverage into an easy touchdown Friday, connecting with wideout Marvin Jones. The Colts’ defense provided some level of resistance — safety Darius Butler had a nice pass breakup on one play — but overall, Detroit’s offense got the best of Indy’s D for the second straight day.

>> Tolzien wasn’t bashful about going deep Friday. Problem was it never worked out. Tolzien tried twice to hit T.Y. Hilton deep downfield during 11-on-11 work; both times the Lions had safety help on Hilton and the pass fell incomplete. It was another rough morning for the Colts’ offense.

>> Both Malik Hooker and Quincy Wilson appear to continue making strides. Hooker has seen his reps with the first-team defense increase over the past week, and Wilson had a nice pass breakup Friday. If the rookie defensive backs continue to develop, they could see themselves in the starting lineup come Week 1 of the regular season.